City introduces new neighborhood cleanup plan

Trash piles, like this one on 10th West between 200 and 300 South in 2017, seemed to appear and expand in the summer months while the city’s annual curbside cleanup was going on. The new Call 2 Haul program should alleviate this problem. Photo by Lance H||||||||

By Lance V. Hemmert

There’s a new residential bulk cleanup program in town, and it’s called “Call 2 Haul.” Replacing the old Neighborhood Cleanup program, the new effort addresses the challenges many residents had with the old program such as environmental impacts and illegal dumping.

The new bulk item program has been designed to meet the challenges of an increasingly populated city that fulfills water quality and environmental protections guidelines set for by various agencies from the local to federal level. In addition to meeting these standards, the city has taken great care to canvas opinions on the program in an effort to be fair, accessible and convenient for all Salt Lake City residents.

The new Call 2 Haul program will offer city residents more options compared to the Neighborhood Cleanup, including proper disposal of electronic waste and tires, greater scheduling flexibility, yard waste that cannot fit into your brown compost bin, and perhaps most importantly, a reduction in illegal dumping.

What do you need to know about the new program?

Call 2 Haul, first and foremost, replaces the old way of creating piles in front of your home and along our streets. It’s for disposing of large and bulky items that can’t fit into your bins. You simply call (801) 535-6999 Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. to schedule a pickup. It’s that easy. For details on the Call 2 Haul program, like what materials are accepted by the city, you can go to www.slcgreen.com/c2h-how-to and review the new guidelines.

These changes come on the heels of a recent effort to inform residents to recycle their plastic bags and film apart from the contents they place in their blue bins. Plastic bags and film damage (and in some cases destroy) the separating equipment at recycling facilities. To find a plastic bag and film drop-off location you simply go to www.plasticfilmrecycling.org/recycling-bags-and-wraps/find-drop-off-location/, type in your zip code, and a list of businesses that accept this material is made available. Additionally, you’re urged to bring your own reusable bags when shopping, or you choose biodegradable paper bags.

The city also asks you to separate your glass items for recycling rather than using the limited space we have for landfills. You can go to http://www.slcgreen.com/glass-recycling to find locations near your home for drop-off points, or to order a grey recycle bin for $7 a month.

The new and existing programs are an effort by the city to meet the health and environmental challenges of an increasingly dynamic and industrious Salt Lake City. Let’s all pitch in together so we can make the west side a clean and welcoming place for all!